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As you may know I have been poorly a lot recently... just before Xmas, then just after, then for the last two weeks I've had flu and asthma.

Is there anything I can do now to boost my immune system big time? I am pretty sick of being sick!

I think I'll dig my juice extractor out and get some fruit and veggie juices down me to supplement my 5 a day thingy.

Are there any herbal things I can try..... I really am feeling very low.

I walk the dogs every day (apart from when I couldn't get out of bed!) and try and eat plenty of veg - which will be helped in the summer when my garden starts producing really fresh stuff....

Any ideas would be gratefully received.
Thanks

How about eating nettles? Nettle soup is pretty easy to make or nettle haggis, nettles and spinach are good for boosting energy levels. I went out last night to catch up with a couple of friends and had a few too many. I ate nettle soup for my lunch and it help revitalise me.

If you have read my asthma article?

Nettles and Spinnach are both great and they help clean toxins out the system. Oats are very good too so maybe have porridge for your breakfast, especially with a spoonful of honey.
For a supplement you can't beat Echinacea and Goldenseal - you can buy them from your local health food shop in tablet form. They both help to strengthen your immune system when it needs an extra boost.
Get well soon.

*puts professional hat on* There's some evidence that echinacea can help with upper respiratory tract problems, but it's an enzyme inducer so it's best taken two weeks on, two weeks off, and not at all if you've got any surgery planned (don't ask me why). *takes hat back off*

SOunds like a run of bad luck to me. If you're in a job involving contact with the public, make sure you wash your hands often and swab surfaces down every half hour. Most respiratory infections are transmitted by hand-to-eye/mouth/nose than actually inhaled.

Plus, make sure you're using your steroid inhaler for the asthma if you have one.

Thanks guys. I take echinacea when I have a cold and it does help me, but as you say, I don't take it constantly. I take my steroidal puffer too. I had a course of steroids too last week (predisolone)... I just feel so flat - there's no nettles about here at the mo! I also have a hernia op due in the next few months. I am kinda thinking that the time off that I have to recover (which will be in the summer) will be an ideal time to just kick back and relax and try and get my strength back.

I work in a vets as a receptionist so get loads of people come in all the time - also I have a 2 year old son who is catching everything going from nursery and I tend to pick all that up too. I am getting pretty embarrased at having all this time off work though!

Any other ideas would be great. Thanks

Ring the path lab at the hospital and ask them how far ahead you should stop the echinacea.

And wait for warmer weather!

OK, thanks.

I'd say pretty much in line with what others have said; eat well; sleep well; drink plenty of water; get regular exercise... In fact that sounds so sensible, I might try it myself.

And if all else fails, get some chocolate in.

a 'recipe' that I was given by a friend is:in a clean jar place 1 onion chopped, 2 cloves crushed garlic, drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of honey over top. put on lid and place in fridge overnight. take a spoonful of the liquid in the morning and at night. only keep for 48 hrs and then make new mix.
doesn't taste as bad as it sounds

another 'recipe' chop a lemon in half, place in a saucepan and cover with water, simmer until amount of water is halved, strain liquid when cool, measure and add equal quantity of honey. store in the fridge. lasts a long time. take a spoomful when required.

Thanks. Trouble is I cannot STAND honey!!!

Sounds stupid I know but wear a hat whenever you go outside.
In the summer it will protect against heat stroke and in the winter against losing too much heat through your head.
If you like black treacle ,have a cup of hot water with a spoonfull of black treacle and one of lemon juice stirred in.
Dont tire yourself out or you will be open to all the ailments going.
Get plenty of sleep.

Tigerhair wrote:..... I really am feeling very low.

A lot of people i have spoke to of late are going through patches or extended periods of feeling very low, no energy to speak of. Hang in there Tigerhair, when our energies are low we pick things up that are harder than normal to shake.

What led up to you getting sick?

I do try and get plenty of sleep - I try and get more than 8hrs a night - although since Josh was born it has been broken 99% of the time - and he's over 2 now. Yep, still waking for a bottle now and again.

I guess I have always tended to pick up chesty/cold bugs and since Josh was born I have had every tummy bug he's had too - so along with those, the terrible pregnancy before that and a BAD cold before christmas, strep throat after christmas and now this flu bug which brought my asthma on with a vengence I feel like a wet rag. I KNOW loads of people have had something, so I need to boost myself so that I don't catch anything else.

Anyone fancy buggering off to a desert island (with everything one needs for a healthy life) for 6 months with me so that I can build myself up again. No bugs allowed!!!!

Thanks for putting up with the moaning!

Me please Tigz.....

I really hope that you start to feel better soon... it really does take it out of you when you get illness after illness... and flu in particular.

A lot of people I know swear by honegar - but as you can imagine from the name it is honey and vinegar... not sure which taste comes through though.

So sorry to hear that you are a bit low at the moment,we have been the same. Colds that we would normally shake off in a week have lasted several and we seem to have had one thing after another. Im hoping that as Spring arrives (soon please!) that we all start to feel better. Im a firm believer in the state of your emotional health affects your phsyical health and what with all the cold,damp weather we have been having lately its no wonder we are all suffering. Im going to try and spend as much time as possible outside this year (Im usually out in the garden most of the summer anyway like everyone else!) even if there is just a glimpse of sun,get plenty of rest and keep the brain active and see if that has any positive effects! Hope you start to feel better soon.